Next Generation Phaeton Will Be Reintroduced to US

VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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31 videos
Group is one of the largest automakers in the world and is in a three-way struggle with General MotorsGMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
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and ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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10 videos
to take the top position. In the first six months of the year VW Group has sold 4.7 million cars, and GM has sold 4.85 million cars. Toyota has not announced its six-month sales yet, but from January to May, it has sold 4.2 million cars, which includes HinoHinoJapan, 1942 > 19671 model
and DaihatsuDaihatsuJapan, 1951 > present33 models
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.

However, Volkswagen continues to struggle in North America. In the first six months of the year, VW Group, which in North America includes VW, AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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, BentleyBentleyUnited Kingdom, 1919 > present37 models
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, PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
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and LamborghiniLamborghiniItaly, 1963 > present32 models
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, has sold 437,900 cars. Both GM and Toyota have sold over a million cars in the US in the same period. 

VW’s goal is to sell 800,000 cars a year in the US by 2018.

One of Volkswagen’s solutions is to add new products to North America, including the next generation PhaetonVolkswagen PhaetonGermany, 2002 > present37 versions
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, which has not been on sale in the US for seven years.

The next Phaeton is getting a radical rethink after the first generation failed to live up to sales goals. Last year, Volkswagen sold about have as many Phaetons as it had hoped.

The next generation car will be revealed at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and go on sale later in 2014. It will share a platform with the Audi A8Audi A8 Gen.3Germany, 2010 > present48 versions
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.

Obviously, an executive sedan like the Phaeton will do practically nothing to double VW Group’s North American sales, but VW Group CEO sees the car as a halo model that will drive the brand.

“A brand as large as Volkswagen needs a halo project in the upscale segment. We've seen what happens to brands that don't have that kind of project,” said Winterkorn.

To drive further demand, Volkswagen is also working on the CrossblueVolkswagen CrossBlueGermany, 2014 > 20145 photos
SUV that will take on full-size SUVs in the US, and the seventh-generation GolfVolkswagen Volkswagen Golf Gen.7 [VII]Germany, 2012 > present363 versions
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will go on sale in 2014. 

Source: Automotive News